The Yankees name Don Zimmer to be the club’s interim manager while Joe Torre receives treatments for prostate cancer. The team’s bench coach compiled an 885-858 (.508) record during his managerial stints with San Diego, Boston, Texas, and Chicago.
1999 – The Boston Red Sox sign free agent pitcher Ramón Martinez to a contract, uniting him with his younger brother, Pedro.
On March 8, 1999, former New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio dies after a much-publicized battle with lung cancer. The baseball legend and American icon was 84. Born in Martinez, California, DiMaggio arrived in the major leagues at the age of 21. He batted .323 in his first season and helped the Yankees to the…
1999 – In a historic agreement, it is announced that the Baltimore Orioles will travel to Cuba for a March 28th exhibition game against the Cuban national team in Havana. The Cuban team will travel to the United States for a return contest later this season. It is the first time in 40 years that a team from the USA will play a professional game in Cuba.
1999 – Houston Astros outfielder Moises Alou undergoes surgery to repair ligaments in his left knee. He will be out for 5 to 6 months. Alou was injured when he fell while trying to adjust the speed of his treadmill while in the Dominican Republic.
1999 – Players Orlando Cepeda and Smokey Joe Williams, manager Frank Selee, and umpire Nestor Chylak are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.
In the episode “Big Shots” of the television show Everybody Loves Raymond, Ray Romano’s character, the fictional Newsday sports writer Ray Barone is kicked out of an event honoring the Mets’ 1969 World Series championship team. The Hall of Fame security guards lose their patience when the title character, who insists on using his journalist’s credentials to avoid the wait, refuses to get in line with the fans waiting to meet their heroes, including Tug McGraw and Art Shamsky.
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